Capital Punishment - for or Against

I’m sure you all have your thoughts on Capital Punishment, and whether you’re for or against it. I’d like to share a story with you about Donna Payant, a New York State Corrections Officer, and her killer. Lemuel Smith was an inmate where Donna worked; in 1976, he was sentenced to death for murdering a store owner and his employee, then kidnapping and murdering another woman before he was caught. However, his sentence was later converted to life in prison, sealing Donna’s fate five years later (Irvine, Kincaid,2003). My aim today is to share a few ideas that enforce capital punishment as an effective means of deterring heinous and horrific crimes, providing comfort for victims and their families, and saving the legal system money. Let’s start by taking a look at deterrence. Capital punishment can be looked at from the aspect of deterrence, which is discouraging individuals who may have the intention to participate in homicide. It is also a reference to the criminal, denoting that he may not commit a crime or participate in homicide. Deterrence is summed up by the deterrence theory (Siegel, 2012); this theory requires that individuals weigh the costs and rewards associated with different actions. It’s based on the premise that individuals will choose those actions that translate to greatest reward at lesser costs. The theory also proposes that crime is preferred when it is seen as yielding a greater reward at a lesser cost than conventional alternatives. In this case, capital punishment introduces the cost perspective; since nothing is costlier than life, criminals will be convinced that crime does not pay; this is referred to as general deterrence (Chandler, 2002). However, these actions would only be possible when the sanctions are…...

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...Yes, it is true that people do commit horrible crimes but to kill a person for their immoral behavior is not just. Some people may think that capital punishment is justifiable but all it is is revenge. Instead of killing the person we should lock them up behind bars, where they are away from the general population. Offer the person counseling so that they can become a healthier person both mentally and spiritually. To just kill someone for their actions does not solve anything. When we kill for justice, the only thing that separates us from the criminal is the reason why we are killing. A death for a death does not help any situation. The victim will not be brought back to life, the only thing that happens is that two families are greatly affected. Two wrongs do not make a right, the death penalty should be abolished from the laws of our country.
In the Old Testament there are many references to capital punishment. The Mosaic Law set numerous offenses that were punishable by death. In Exodus 21, God commanded capital punishment for murderers. The consequences were harsh to prevent people from doing wrong. On the Sermon on the Mount Jesus is calling us to love our enemies and turn the other cheek. The New Testament reverses the old ways of thought.
An early Christian writer St. Clement of Rome spoke heavily against capital punishment. He said that "to witness a man's execution, regardless of the justice of his prosecution, is forbidden by the moral law of Christ." A man......

...Capital Punishment is Wrong
“ For hundreds of years people have considered capital punishment a deterrence of crime. Seven hundred and five individuals have died since 1976, by means of capital punishment; twenty-two of these executions have already occurred this year at Death Penalty Information Center”, exclaims Tara Volpe in her article, Capital Punishment: Does Death Equal Justice? In another article written by Coretta King, the author states that, “In recent years, an increase of violence in America, both individual and political, has prompted a backlash of public opinion on capital punishment”. Capital punishment is a tremendous issue that faces the criminal justice system. Some people think that capital punishment is a good idea for those who commit capital or very serious crimes; on the other hand, some people believe that capital punishment is wrong. In reality, capital punishment is wrong for several reasons.
According to the free online dictionary, “capital punishment” is defined as the penalty of death for the commission of a crime. There are several words, which are the same as capital punishments are execution, death sentence, judicial murder and death warrant.
To begin with, capital punishment is wrong because it is immoral and unfair. Some people are subjected to capital punishment even when there is speculation as to whether they actually committed the specified crime. A known case of this kind was the one involving David Spense who was given the......

...2011
Capital punishment is the death penalty; it has been in use since ancient times to punish a selection of crimes. The Bible even promotes death for murder and other offenses like kidnapping. Often we hear the Bible quoted as a justification for capital punishment: “Eye for eye, tooth for tooth” (from Leviticus 24:20; also Exodus 21:24). This follows a more direct passage: “Whoever takes the life of any human being shall be put to death” (Leviticus 24:17). When the term death penalty is said, it makes screaming and shouting from both sides of activists. There are numerous arguments that are for and against capital punishment. One side of the argument might say it is justice served, while the other side might say, but you might execute an innocent man. People against the death penalty may believe: the death penalty fails as a deterrent, it does not discourage crime, death penalty fails to rehabilitate, encourages brutality, relative suffering, or that conviction of the innocent may occur. People that are for the death penalty may see it as: decreasing the rate of homicide, when you commit a felony it is a matter of free will, there is no proof of any innocent human being executed, the death penalty saves lives, or they may possibly see it as
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...CAPITAL PUNISHMENT: SHOULD IT BE ABOLISHED?
Capital Punishment: Meaning
Punishment can be defined as suffering, loss, pain or penalty inflicted upon an individual by a legal authority, as a consequence of certain acts of commission and omission. Punishment has two aspects. First is ‘utilitarian’ in which punishment is used as a tool for increasing happiness of the society by pointing out to the criminal the wrongfulness of his crime as well presenting the punishment as a deterrent to both the criminal and the society for not repeating the crime. Second aspect is ‘retributive’ which serves as a consolation to the aggrieved or his kin that the criminal has been adequately punished. Capital punishment is the ultimate punishment in which life of a criminal is taken away by a legal authority under a process established by the law.
International Scenario
Although, UN “Universal Declaration of Human Rights” does not say anything explicitly about death penalty, Article 5 of the said declaration prohibits torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. Activists have been arguing that death penalty is cruel and inhuman and hence covered under this article.
The Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1989, provides for the total abolition of the death penalty except in times of war or imminent threat of war. Protocol No. 6 to the European Convention for the Protection of Human...

...Why Capital Punishment Should Be Supported
Marven Gee
CJA/204
April 11, 2011
Royce Decker
Abstract
This paper speaks about capital punishment and why I feel that capital punishment should be
supported. In the Bible, there are scriptures quoted by God and his son Jesus in reference to
supporting the death penalty. If the God we serve is not opposed to taking the life of a person
that has committed a crime of murder, then we as a people should not be opposed to the death
penalty.
Many people are opposed to capital punishment for various reasons. The main reason many
people are opposed to capital punishment has to do with biblical issues. I support capital
punishment because of what bible scriptures say and I honestly believe that god does not have a
problem with a criminals life being taken because of a severe crime the criminal committed. All
throughout the bible, many of God’s chosen leaders killed many kings, tribes, and soldiers that
opposed the people of Israel. Moses, Josuha, Saul, David, Paul, and Sampson were some of
God’s greatest men to ever lead his people and yet they killed many men that opposed God.
In the bible, it states “an eye for an eye” which means that what you do to a person, should be
done to you. So if a person commits a crime of murder, then their life should be taken from
them. During biblical times, there were many ways a person was put to death for wrong doing
and one......

...April 15, 2012
Capital Punishment
Capital Punishment is the killing of people as punishment for their crimes legally (Haines 3). Since the beginning of time, capital punishment has been a way of punishing people who have committed higher levels of crimes. Although capital punishment has been around for centuries, the first known case of the death penalty in the American colonies happened in the James town colony in 1608 when George Kendall was executed for spying for the Spanish (Green, Melissa S.,compiler. (1998-2009). Focus on the Death Penalty). Capital Punishment is a subject in the United States that was and still is very controversial. Many people want capital punishment to be abolished but on the other hand there are a handful of people who want capital punishment to end. The purpose of this study is to show why capital punishment should be abolished.
Capital punishment needs to be abolished because there are way too many cases and executions. During the time span of the Revolutionary war, capital punishment was widely accepted. During this time 162 documented cases of capital punishment were recorded. In the nineteenth century, following that era, capital punishment had increased to 1,391 documented cases. As of April 1, 2008, there were a total of 1,099 people who received the death penalty. The State of Texas had the most cases of capital punishment with a number of 405 cases (Bureau of Justice Statistics 1-2). That is way too many cases just for one state.......

...get rid of capital punishment?
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It’s some people out here that enjoys killing people like serial killers, which they need to be stopped. A person’s religious matter might prevent them from supporting capital punishment. This is why some judges sentence murderers or serial killers to life in prison or a even lesser punishment with parole. Just giving them a life sentence is overcrowding prisons. I don’t think we should reward murderers by keeping them alive and feeding them. While the family of the victim forever mourns. Another thing that I think is dumb is to let them out for good behavior. They can kill again when they get out. I have seen it happen before. People that are against capital punishment are......

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There is no question on whether or not the people who commit heinous crimes should be punished to the fullest extent of the law because they should. However, I for one am against the death penalty and feel that it should be abolished. Prior to this assignment I thought that maybe I was for capital punishment but when I actually sat down and thought about whether or not this was an effective deterrent of crime the answer on where I stood was clearer. Capital punishment would only be affective if it was consistently applied to crime. Although 38 states still have the death penalty there is still a consistent amount of crime in each state. If the death penalty was adequately applied I believe that the crime rate would probably go down because criminals would then understand the severity of the crimes they commit and the consequence for that crime. However, this is not the only reason I feel that......

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To some people Capital Punishment would be considered an act of cruel and unusual punishment; while for others it is a system that should be considered needed in all the States in order to keep the country more safe for the people. Many states within the U.S. have performed executions of convicts since the early 1600’s. Views on capital Punishment vary with people in different ways; there are various organizations within the country that have different opinions on the subject, and organizations such as Religions, Political, or Humanitarian have diverse perspectives on the Death Penalty.
“The death penalty is also most commonly argued to be a violation of the right to life or of the "sanctity of life." Many national constitutions and international treaties guarantee the right to life. the right to life demands that a life only be taken in exceptional circumstances, such as in self-defense or as an act of war, and therefore that it violates the right to life of a criminal if she or he is executed, since this is purely murder by the State”......

...Level 6
Name
Teacher
Benefits of Capital Punishment
In order to understand this topic is important to define ´´Capital punishment´´, which is also called death penalty, according to the Encyclopedia Britannica is ´´the execution of an offender sentenced to death after conviction by a court of law of a criminal offense´´ published on Apr. 25, 2008. This type of punishment has been used for many years, in almost all societies and religions. In most countries (Saudi Arabia, Africa, Somalia, and United States) this count of method it is reserved from those who commit murder, treason, but there are other countries where it is applied for those who commit sexual felonies, such as rape, incest, pedophilia, adultery. On the other hand, crimes as drug traffic are considered capital punishment as well. In China, human trafficking, and other corruption cases lead to the death penalty.
In this context, there are many people who are against capital punishment, as said by the Abolitionists, death penalty or capital punishment is not only is an act of violence but also a crime, it is considered an inhumane act tolerating the killing of another human being. In fact, it is intricate that the government allows this type of punishment since is taking away the life of a human being as a solution to fight against crime and violence. They argue that violence should never be the answer for the problems that the society is going through. Although, the society that we are living now is full......

...Murder is wrong. Since childhood we have been taught this indisputable truth. Ask yourself, then, what is capital punishment? In its simplest form, capital punishment is defined as one person taking the life of another. Coincidentally, that is the definition of murder. There are 36 states with the death penalty, and they must change. These states need to abolish it on the grounds that it carries a dangerous risk of punishing the innocent, is unethical and barbaric, and is an ineffective deterrent of crime versus the alternative of life in prison without parole.
Capital punishment is the most ­irreparable crime governments perpetrate without consequence, and it must be abolished. “We’re only ­human, we all make mistakes,” is a commonly used phrase, but it is tried and true. Humans, as a species, are famous for their mistakes. However, in the case of the death penalty, error becomes too dangerous a risk. The innocent lives that have been taken with the approval of our own government should be enough to abolish capital punishment.
According to Amnesty International, “The death penalty legitimizes an irreversible act of violence by the state and will inevitably claim innocent victims.” If there is any chance that error is possible (which ­there always is), the drastic measure of capital ­punishment should not be taken. Also, it is too final, meaning it does not allow opportunity for th accused to be proven innocent, a violation of the Fifth Amendment which guarantees due......

...Capital Punishment
In the United States there have been many controversies and disputes of issues ranging from abortion, gun control, health care and immigration. But possibly, capital punishment is the most widely discussed issues because of the range of questions that arise stemming from legal, philosophical, social, practical, political and moral aspects. Capital punishment is defined as the legal infliction of the death penalty on persons convicted of a crime. It is a form of retributive justice that some feel is justified when proportionate to the crime committed. In the United States capital punishment is not intended to inflict and physical pain or torture but rather just used as another form of punishment.
Many civilizations such as the ancient Romans and Egyptians used capital punishment to punish citizens form crimes such as blasphemy, treason, theft and murder. They believed in the “eye for an eye” doctrine. These ancient civilizations would perform capital punishment in the forms of stoning, burning, garroting, beheading, decapitation and crucifixion. Unlike how capital punishment is used today these methods were used to humiliate and inflict pain; they would be considered as cruel, barbaric and unusual punishment. Most deaths resulting from capital punishment in ancient civilizations were very slow instead of immediate. Two of the most popular cases of ancient capital punishment are that of Socrates and Jesus Christ.
Great Britain originally brought the......

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Running Head: CAPITAL PUNISHMENT
Capital Punishment
Kathleen Predmore
Abstract
Capital Punishment should it be abolished or continue? Over 15,269 Americans have been executed since the beginning of the death penalty in the United Sates, which dates back to colonial times. Some people see it as a barbaric means of punishment while others see it as an important tool for fighting pre-meditated murder and other horrific crimes. The death penalty has bee in existence since the Eighteenth Century B.C. At first, it was carried out by horrific means, boiling, beheading, and burning at the steak just to name a few. Later as man became more civilized, more humane methods were invented and used. It was not until the Nineteenth Century that the death penalty finally found opposition. Since then the civilized world has been at odds on whether to abolish the death penalty. In conclusion, the reasons for abolishing it as well as reasons against abolishing the death penalty are argued; however, the victims of the crimes and their families cannot be ignored.
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Over 15,269 Americans have been executed since the beginning of the death penalty in the United Sates, which dates back to colonial times. America remains a minority of nations in the world that still uses the death penalty for punishment of certain crimes. Many see this as a barbaric and against human values. Others see it as a very important means to fighting violent crime and......

...a crime, there should be a punishment. Because of one should be escaped from law. The purpose of punishment to make the society safer for its people. In fact punishing the offenders is a primary function of all civil stales. The way and purpose of punishment may be of different types. But where the matter of the offence is very severe, obviously punishment should be very severe. Death sentence has been used an on effective weapon of retributive Justice for centuries. The Justification advanced is that it is lawful to forfeit the life of a person who takes a way another's life. Death penalty has been a way of punishing people since ages. Although there are some countries that have abolished death penalty from their law, there are still many which still practice the act of killing a person for crime. Death penalty is prevalent in the US, Asian and Middle Eastern countries. Some of the ways of executing criminals are hanging, shooting, electrocution and giving lethal injections. People have different opinions on the issue of death penalty given to a convict. While some think that death penalty is necessary for those who have committed a terrible crime, there are others who consider it as an immoral act that goes against the values of humanity.
Capital Punishment
Death penalty is considered as capital punishment. Section 54 of the Penal Code, 1860, deals with communication of sentence of death. This is the most severe form of corporal punishment as it requires law......

...The human rights activists are against this type of punishment
I believe in second chances.
The Disadvantages of Death Penalty
* Though there are scientific methods available to investigate the crime, nothing is guaranteed. You cannot remove the chances of punishing innocents completely.
* The cost involved on the death penalty prosecution is greater than the expenses occurred in the life imprisonment of the accused. The appeals against such capital punishments take too long to decide, and often it takes years to decide the fate of the death penalty. All these things make the death penalty an expensive option for the governments who spend millions of the dollars of the taxpayer money on death penalty prosecutions.
* It is reported that some of the jury members are not completely impartial as they decide the penalty on racial or religious basis.
* Some of the accused are mentally ill, and it is ethically wrong to put mentally ill patients to the death.
* In most cases people who can afford to hire the expensive lawyers often survived from such kind of capital punishment. People who are poor, and cannot afford to get a quality legal assistance becomes the victim of this penalty.
* Some of the experts believe that life prison is a more effective punishment to control crimes as compared to the death penalty. The countries where the death penalty is banned have less capital crime rate as compared to those countries where the death penalty is practiced.
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